By the numbers

Agency systems chiefs must not only secure their systems, they must make sure people know it. That's why surveys of the perceived status of systems security are important.

The Information Technology Association of America and the Meta Group recently surveyed IT professionals in and out of government. They found 77 percent believe the private sector has more advanced cybersecurity than government.

Eight in 10 respondents rated the vulnerability of public-sector systems as high or extremely high. Yet 80 percent felt the federal government has made progress in collaborating with industry on cybersecurity in the past 12 months.

Seven in 10 respondents thought that if the Internet were to be disrupted, private industry'not the government'should be responsible for restoring it.